§ Mr. Jesselasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of children in the care of local authorities, and the number of children who came into such care last year; and if
1952 1957 1962 1967 1972 Children in care on 31st March 64,682 62,033 63,648 69,405 90,586 Children received into care in year ending 31st March 37,977 39,096 47,471 53,381 53,365 Figures for 1972 are not directly comparable with those for earlier years since on 1st January 1971 the power of the courts to commit to approved school was replaced by a power to commit to the care of a local authority and all persons under 19 then subject to approved school orders or to supervision after release from approved school were deemed from that date to be subject to care orders.